Chapter 14

Sokka had opted to stay with his father and tribe for the duration of their stay in Omashu as things between him and Suki had been weird for a while. He wasn't sure why exactly but he thought it had something to do with her desire to find her warriors and go home. They had been overlooked by the Fire Nation before the comet, and she thought that could continue. As much as she said she loved him, she was tired and they both knew it might be years before they could launch another counter. Neither of them seemed sure where they were headed, but he thought reconnecting with his family was a good enough reason to continue the space they'd been giving each other.

After everyone was settled, Hakoda had gone with him to meet King Bumi. Sokka was surprised to find that some of his usual energy had returned and they had been invited to dine with him. Suki and Toph had been oddly quiet at dinner and neither Zuko or his sister had shown. Rather rude he thought, and extremely suspect. Hakoda had not seemed to notice their absence though and King Bumi hadn't mentioned it. Having been well fed for the last few days Sokka was not so distracted by the platters of perfectly prepared meats as he could have been. Well not too distracted. He'd be finding them as soon as he finished his meal.

His father informed the King that they only planned to stay in Omashu for two nights. Long enough to refresh themselves and rest for a whole day before heading on to scatter themselves in Ba Sing Se. It was dangerous for his people now that the air nomad Avatar was dead. The Fire Lord would be hunting his people in search of the next incarnation. His warriors had been away from home for so long he thought it likely that the new Avatar would be from the southern tribe. King Bumi had laughed heartily with him over this. Sokka had rolled his eyes so hard he thought they may have been in danger of falling from his head. It was after that comment that a pale Suki and a smug Toph had excused themselves for the evening and Sokka had gone with them.

As they neared their suit of rooms, he wondered aloud where Katara might be and both girls had stopped mid stride. Suki looked at Toph for a moment before the younger girl gave a shrug and turned to Sokka.

"She is probably with Zuko, in their room. That they are sharing. Together. If I had to guess..." She paused and cocked her head as if listening. A sly grin spread across her face and she grabbed a spluttering Sokka by the arm and dragged him through the door and towards Katara's room. "Come on Sokka, I think it's time you got over your willful ignorance once and for all." Suki followed close behind and loudly questioning the intelligence of this course of action.

When they got to Katara's door, Toph paused before slamming the door open, nearly blasting it off its hinges with the force of her blow. Sokka barely managed to yank her down in time to avoid being hit by a blast of fire.

"What in Agni's name is wrong with you people? Haven't you ever heard of knocking? I could have killed you." Noticing a now laughing Toph he nearly growled. "I know you knew we were asleep Toph."

The aforementioned earthbender was doubled over laughing as a wild haired Katara finally sat up in bed. She was obviously a deeper sleeper than Zuko was and she blinked sleepily for a beat before her eyes widened in horror as she met her brother's matching horrified expression and yanked the sheet up over her chest.

"Sokka, get out! I'm naked you meathead!" She threw a pillow at his head that he easily batted away before taking his turn at yelling.

"Get out she says, what are you doing in here? Why are you naked Katara? You are.. I.. He is... I'm so telling dad!"

His reward was a face full of freezing water and wet clothes. As he wiped the water from his face and tried to wring out his shirt, she continued to berate him.

"I would think it was obvious what I am doing here brother, and why I am naked." She gave him a scathing look and glanced at Suki before returning her glare to him. "And for your information, dad already knows. We have been traveling with him for the last two weeks. There isn't much privacy in a tent."

Sokka dramatically gagged at this and failed to dodge the second pillow she threw. Suki smacked him upside the head for good measure before reminding him of their own intimate relationship.

"Honestly Sokka you're such a child! How can you be upset with her for doing the exact same thing you've been doing for the last year? Never mind that it's supposedly normal for your people."

Shooting his girlfriend a glare of his own and rubbing the back of his head that now stung from her blow, he turned back to his sister and friend. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he gave them an apologetic look and held his hands up in surrender.

"Fine, Zuko I forgive you for defiling my baby sister." He caught Suki's hand this time as she drew back to smack him again. "Ok, ok fine! I'm sorry Katara. You're right Suki, I guess I am being a little bit of a hypocrite. It's one thing to know something is happening and another to see it naked and in bed together." A smug look lit up his face as he glanced at Zuko. "So Zuko, you've talked to dad then? I'd love to have been there for that conversation!"

"Actually, I haven't spoken to your father yet, but I plan to. Tomorrow actually." Zuko held his gaze until Sokka looked away, the smugness swapped for thoughtfulness. "Wait outside Sokka, I need to talk to you before you go to bed."

Sokka nodded and backed out of the room, dragging a grumbling Suki behind him. Toph smirked in the general direction of the bed before following them out. Back in the hall, Suki wrestled her hand free and growled at him before stomping off to their room leaving him alone with Toph.

"As much as I'd love to stick around and listen to what is no doubt going to be a very interesting conversation, I don't think Sparky would appreciate an audience. Good night Sokka, don't get yourself roasted!" She strode out of the room in the direction Suki had gone just as the Jerkbender in question made his appearance. He hadn't bothered to find a shirt, displaying a rather large and angry fresh scar, and stood with his hands in fists at his sides. Sokka crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow.

"She's pregnant isn't she?" This seemed to take Zuko by surprise for half a second before he nodded.

"How did you know?"

"I didn't, not for sure anyway. If dad already knows you two have this relationship, the only reason you'd need to speak to him would be if you wanted to marry her. I can't imagine either of you would be thinking of that now, not so soon after everything that's happened. Plus the timing, why tomorrow? Why haven't you yet? Why not when we reach Ba Sing Se or after we finally defeat your crazy dad, which we definitely will. Just odd that's all. That and when Toph left just now she seemed entirely too smug, like she knew some big secret." He narrowed his eyes as he considered Zuko standing before him.

"You're taking this rather well, considering how you reacted in there just now I expected more drama." Crossing his arms as well, some of the tension left Zuko's shoulders.

Sokka thought for a moment and smiled at his friend. "I walked in on you and my sister naked in bed together, I saw her boobs for La's sake!" He shuddered at the memory. "You know we are friends now Zuko, have been for months. I respect you as a man, and I know if you were stupid enough to hurt my sister she'd make you regret it." They both laughed at that. Katara was scary when she was mad, and powerful too. "I have a feeling though you didn't just want to talk about how you knocked my sister up."

Zuko let out a long breath and shifted his weight back and forth on his feet before answering.

"I need your help Sokka. My father is hunting me and he won't make the mistake of leaving that to foot soldiers again. He wants her too, your whole tribe probably, but I know he is fixated on me. I love your sister Sokka, and now she..." He paused and closed his eyes for a moment, overcome with emotion. "I will protect them Sokka. When she leaves for Ba Sing Se in two days I won't be going with her. I plan to make my way there the long way around the western edge of the Earth Kingdom and make sure I'm seen. That way anyone looking for me will be far away from Katara."

Sokka was honestly a little stunned. He knew he shouldn't have been, he knew Zuko.

"You want me to come with you." It wasn't a question. If Zuko was going off alone, Sokka knew he would go with him. He would go for his sister, who would kill Sokka if anything happened to her child's father. Zuko glanced back at his bedroom door before nodding.

"I do. Will you? I know you probably don't want to leave Suki or your dad now that you've found him again, but Katara made me promise not to go alone. I'd like you to come with me."

Sokka smiled at him and stepped across the space between them to clap a hand on his shoulder.

"Of course I will Zuko. Someone has to make sure you don't run out on my sister. Oh calm down I'm only joking. I'll go with you tomorrow when you speak to dad and we can tell him where we're going. Do you want to leave ahead of them or after?"

Zuko thought about it a moment before answering.

"I think it would be best if we left ahead. That would give us time to be seen somewhere at least once before they are on the road. Tomorrow then." Sokka dropped his hand and turned to head for his own bed.

"You better get back to Katara then, who knows how long it'll be before we meet them in Ba Sing Se. See ya in the morning buddy."

Zuko smirked, and left him to rejoin Katara. Sokka thought for a moment about joining Suki after all since he'd be leaving with Zuko the next day. Hesitating a moment, he sighed and headed in the direction she'd gone earlier. She was likely annoyed with him still and despite the recent tension in their relationship he didn't want to leave her like that. It would likely be months before they saw each other again, no sense going to bed alone while they were still together.